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Lorena Smalley

Golden Voices of our Seba Seniors – Stories from our members

As we celebrate 50 golden years at Seba Seniors, Trish and Tracey sat down with some of our longest-standing members to hear their stories, friendships, and memories that have shaped our community on the shores of Seba Beach. In our newsletters, we’ll be sharing the stories from these conversations — a little window into the heart of Seba Seniors. We think you’ll love getting to know these incredible members as much as Trish & Tracey did.

 

Highlights

  • “I love meeting people and discovering their hidden skills and backgrounds.”
  • “Being a senior is something to be proud of. Seba Seniors should confidently celebrate who they are- a dynamic, accomplished, and exciting group!”
  • “Seba Seniors is a vital winter hub for our year-round residents.”

Seba Senior Involvement

Lynn has been deeply instrumental in shaping Seba Seniors into what it is today. Although she humbly resists the praise, her name consistently comes up in interviews as someone who brought energy, vision, and momentum to the organization.

Early Life & Connection to Seba Beach

  • Lynn first came to Seba Beach in 1964 when her parents built a cabin there.
  • After her parents passed away in 1967, she and her husband Roy became owners of their parents cabin.
  • For years, they spent summers at the cabin while living and working in Edmonton. Eventually though, at age 60, they moved to Seba Beach full-time.
  • Lynn is a registered dietician and taught in the Food Nutrition Management program at NAIT, which allowed her summers off with her children at the lake.

How She Joined Seba Seniors

  • After moving to Seba full-time and recovering from a hip replacement, Lynn was looking for winter activities.
  • At the time, Seba Seniors had very little going on — mainly the thrift shop and a jam group.
  • She and a friend approached the thrift shop and volunteered, even though volunteers weren’t being actively recruited.
  • From there, she was invited onto the board around 2012.

Leadership & Impact

Lynn served in multiple roles over 14 years:

  • Social Director
  • Program Director
  • President
  • Thrift Shop Director

Some of her most notable contributions include:

  1. Securing a Liquor License!

Lynn considers this one of her biggest turning points. She believed social events needed to reflect how adults gather and connect. Despite resistance from some board members, she helped secure a license (starting with beer and wine only), which helped increase attendance and engagement.

  1. Improving Communication

When she joined, there was no internet presence. Reports were handwritten, and events were promoted by posters and phone trees. Under her leadership:

    • The large outdoor sign was installed.
    • Communication methods improved.
    • Foundations were laid for today’s digital presence.
  1. Accessibility Renovations

Lynn and the board made the building more accessible:

    • Installing a chair lift.
    • Renovating bathrooms for wheelchair access.
    • Clearing out years of accumulated clutter. When Lynn joined the board in 2012, members couldn’t even use the Melmoth lounge as it was being used to store overflow stock from the Thrift Shop!
  1. Growing Membership & Activity

She helped rebuild social programming and create welcoming events like the spring barbeque, which became an important seasonal gathering — especially for bridging the gap between summer residents and full-time residents.

Philosophy & Perspective

On Seniors & Identity

  • Lynn is comfortable with the term “senior” and sees it as progressive and evolving.
  • She acknowledges resistance from some people under 50 but believes they are “missing out on a lot of fun.”
  • She supports maintaining Seba Seniors as a seniors-focused organization while keeping programs open to the broader community.

Summary – Lynn’s Reflection on the Name “Seba Seniors”

Lynn believes being a senior is something to be proud of. Seniors have contributed for decades — supporting the economy, raising families, building communities — and now it’s their time to enjoy life. This stage represents freedom: the chance to travel, pursue hobbies, attend classes, and explore interests that may have been put aside during busier years.

Lynn feels strongly that the group should promote itself as a vibrant, active, and engaging community. She rejects outdated stereotypes of seniors as frail or disengaged. While some members may face health challenges, many are mentally sharp, socially active, and deeply interesting people with rich life experiences.

Her message is clear: Seba Seniors should confidently celebrate who they are — a dynamic, accomplished, and exciting group — and not shy away from the word “senior.”

What Keeps Her Involved

  • She values the centre as a vital winter hub for year-round residents.
  • She loves meeting people and discovering their hidden skills and backgrounds.
  • She believes seniors especially need connection, friendship, and accessible gathering spaces.

Overall Theme

Lynn helped reignite Seba Seniors during a quiet period in its history. Through practical improvements (liquor license, accessibility, communication) and steady leadership, she helped transform it from a nearly dormant organization into an active, social, and growing community hub.

Her leadership style is collaborative, steady, and deeply community-minded — focused not on control, but on building something that allows others to connect.

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